Support for icicles or foil trimming and method of using the same for trimming christmas tree



D. E. SIMPSON 2,789,690 SUPPORT FOR ICICLES OR FOIL TRIMMING AND METHOD OF usme April 23, 1957 THE SAME FOR TRIMMING CHRISTMAS TREE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1951 FIG.3

FIG. 4

FIG. 2

R0 E N5 M 0 VW T ms n E p i 1957 D. E. SIMPSON 2,789,690 SUPPORT FOR ICICLES -0R FOIL TRIMMING AND METHOD OF usmc THE SAME FOR TRIMMING CHRISTMAS TREE Filed June 13, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I i l I I I l I I l I I 36 3 I I I I I I I I II FIG. I2 i I I 1 I [III I INVENTOR. I I DAVID E. SIMPSON I I W,W-J M ATTORNEYS.

' April 23, 1957 D. E. SIMPSON 2,789,590

SUPPORT FOR ICICLES OR FOIL TRIMMING AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME FOR TRIMMING CHRISTMAS TREE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 13, 1951 INVENTOR. DAVID E. SIMPSON BY fla W ,mdm

ATTORNEYS United States Patent SUPPORT FOR lCICLES R FUEL TRIG AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME FUR TRliMMING CSTMAS TREE David E. Simpson, Winnetlsa, ill.

Application June 13, 1951, Serial No. 231,286

6 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) The present invention relates to an improved support for foil type Christmas tree trimming, commonly referred to as icicles or tinsel, in connection with packaging and shipping the same, which support lends itself to use in connection with an' improved method of trimming Christmas trees.

For quite a number of years such foil type Christmas tree trimming often called icicles but hereinafter referred to as tinsel has been extensively used in trimming Christmas trees. It is sold under various names such as icicles and the like and comprises long slender lengths of metal foil or shiny paper which is adapted for draping over the branches of a Christmas tree so as to give the appearance of icicles, etc. A great many people employ only Christmas tree lights and such tinsel as the sole decoration for Christmas trees. As a result, there has been a terrific demand for such trimming material and one of the most expensive problems in connection with selling the tinsel material is that of packaging. Customarily the tinsel is packaged in very small packages which are sold for from to cents a box and one of the major expenses in putting out such boxed tinsel is the actual package. Numerous attempts have been made to reduce the packaging costs and thus far have been unsuccessful.

It has been found that when such tinsel is applied to a Christmas tree, the most attractive appearance of the tree is obtained if each piece of tinsel is individually applied to the branches. This is a very tedious process and as a result the tendency is to apply the tinsel in bunches or sometimes sort of throw it at the tree. With the method of supporting tinsel employed heretofore in packaging the same, the only Way of obtaining a trimmed tree having the appearance of single strand application of the tinsel was the application of the tinsel one piece at a time with the expenditure of an inordinate amount of time. Moreover, tinsel now available on the market is very poorly packaged for optimum utilization of the total contents, since it is usually wadded or massed and tangled so that it is dihicult to separate the individual strands from the mass of tinsel. It would be desirable to provide a supporting means for the tinsel, which supporting means would also serve as a simple means for applying the tinsel in an improved manner which can be accomplished with relatively high speed while still retaining the appearance obtained when tinsel is applied an individual strand at a time.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved means of supporting tinsel which is not only more satisfactory than the prior art means of supporting the same, but which supporting means additionally may be employed as a means for applying the tinsel in an improved and high speed manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of applying tinsel to a Christmas tree.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved support for tinsel which will lend itself to the use of automatic machinery for packaging tinsel in an expeditious manner at a reduced cost while still providing a very attractive package.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the present invention,

eference may be had to the accompanying drawings .in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the tinsel support of the present invention showing the pleated construction thereof, without the tinsel being supported thereon;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tinsel support in Fig. 1 shown in its most compact position with tinsel supported thereon;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a small portion of the tinsel support of Fig. 1 showing a joint between tinsel supporting sections thereof;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a package to indicate how the tinsel support of the present invention may be disposed therein;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view of a portion of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line "/'-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing one step in the process of applying tinsel to a tree by employing the improved support of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing a second step in the process of trimming a Christmas tree utilizing the support of the present invention;

Figs. 10 and 11 are views similar to Figs. 8 and 9 showing further successive steps in applying tinsel to a Christmas tree by utilizing the improved support of the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a perspective View similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified manner of positioning the improved tinsel support of the present invention in a tinsel package; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 7 better to illustrate the details of the packaging arrangement shown in Fig. 12.

The improved tinsel support of the present invention comprises an elongated strip of fibrous material such as cardboard or the like which has one edge grooved, serrated or otherwise formed to provide positioning and spacing means for individual strands of tinesl. The elongated strip is designed with score lines or other means for permitting folding thereof in a pleated or accordion like manner so that the sections of the elongated strip may be arranged in parallel relationship in a closely confined stack. Each support section will have tinsel supported thereon, the tinsel being draped over the section in a manner so that the vertical edge having the grooves or serrations is uppermost. This tinsel support is adapted to be inserted into a suitable box or package preferably by automatic machinery, and is adapted to permit an improved method of applying the tinsel to the tree, the individual sections of the tinsel support being torn off when applying the tinsel and being arranged so that in a few simple steps a large number of strands of tinsel may readily be applied simultaneously to a branch or portion of a branch without the operator ever touching the individual strands of tinsel.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated the improved tinsel support of the present invention generally designated as 15. This tinsel support 15 comprises an elongated strip of cardboard or other suitable supporting material which is relatively rigid and yet inexpensive which characteristics are particularly true of a fibrous material such as cardboard. The elongated strip support 15 is perferably provided on at least one edge with serrations or other deformations so as to define the plurality of grooves or notches 16 along one edge, each groove or notch being capable of receiving therein a single strand of tinsel such as designated at 17 in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The supporting strip 15 preferably has a width of the order of about an inch and a quarter for a purpose which will become apparent as the following description proceeds. The grooves or notches are preferably about one quarter of an inch deep, although this is not important, whereby the strip has a width from the bottom of the groove to the opposite edge of the order of one inch.

For a purpose which will become more apparent as the following description continues, the elongated strip 16 is preferably jointed so as to comprise a plurality of sections specifically designated as 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 15c, 15 and 15g in Fig. l of the drawings. These sections may be of the order of six inches in length although any desirable length may be employed. Preferably as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the strip 15 is scored as indicated at 18 at suitable intervals to permit ready folding in either direction. The scoring has been indicated as applied to one side only, but it could obviously be applied to both sides. Preferably, the strips are made by a stamping operation which simultaneously grooves one edge and scores the strip so that it may be folded or pleated in the manner shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The particular strip 15 shown in Fig. 1 is shown as indicated as comprising seven sections 15a to 15g, respectively, but the particular number of sections is immaterial, the number of sections being determined by the amount of tinsel which it is desired to include in a particular package. Consequently, if the tinsel packages are to be sold fora dime a certain number of sections will be employed whereas if the package is to be sold for a quarter, a larger number of sections will be employed.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the improved tinsel support 15 of the present invention may be folded so as to take up a very small space as clearly indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the total volume of the support comprising that required by the length and width of one section such as 15a and a thickness determined by the thickness of one section multiplied by the number of sections. The seven sections illustrated can readily be confined in a volume 6" x 1%" x Ma". Of course, when tinsel is applied to the supports, the package within which the support is disposed must have sufiicient space to accommodate the free hanging or draping portions of the tinsel pieces which are draped over the respective sections of the support 15.

It will be understood that in applying the tinsel to the support, the support will preferably be fully extended with the individual strands of tinsel moved perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the support 15 so as to be draped over the support with each strand being disposed in its individual groove or notch. Thereafter the support may be folded in the mannershown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The particular construction illustrated lends itself admirably to the use of automatic machinery for applying the tinsel to the support and folding the support as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be understood that the tinsel support of the present invention may readily be disposed within a suitable package or box such as the types in which tinsel is conventionally sold today. It will be apparent that numerous satisfactory methods of packaging the tinsel applied to the support of the present invention are available and by way of example, applicant has disclosed in the drawing at least two means of packaging such support and tinsel. However, numerous others are readily available.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 7 of the drawings, there is illustrated a rectangular box 20 for accommodating the tinsel 17 applied to the support 15 of the present invention. The support and tinsel may be inserted into the box or the box slipped over the tinsel and support so that the support 15 assumes the position in the box 20 shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The box 20 may comprise a conventional cardboard box with a suitable flap or cover 21 at one end thereof. Preferably, the box is provided with cut away portions to define notches or openings 22 and 23 one at each side to permit one to insert a thumb and forefinger readily to grasp the support 15 of the present invention in removing the same from the box 20. In order to maintain the support 15 in the position within the box 20 shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the edges of the box 20 are preferably scored to define a flap 24 on each edge of the box 20 immediately below the normal position of the support 15. When the support 15 is properly disposed within the box 20, these flaps 24 are pushed inwardly in the manner clearly indicated in Figs. 5 to 7 of the drawings so as to maintain the support 15 in the position indicated. The lower portion of the box 20 as viewed in Fig. 5 defines the space for the tinsel 17 so as to preserve the same in a relatively unwrinkled and satisfactory form. An important feature of the present invention resides in the automatic untangling of the tinsel upon unfolding the tinsel support 15 or removal of one of the sections thereof.

An important feature of the support of the present invention is the dual function thereof whereby in addition to properly supporting the tinsel from the time of manufacture until the tinsel is used for trimming the tree, the support furthermore provides a very satisfactory implement or means for actually applying the tinsel to the tree in a manner to give the appearance of individual application of the tinsel strands without the operator ever having to touch the individual tinsel strands. This feature of the present invention and the improved method of trimming a tree permitted thereby may best be understood by reference to Figs. 8 to 11 of the draw ings. When one is ready to trim a tree with the tinsel of the present invention, the support 15 is removed from the box 20 in the manner readily understood by an examination of Fig. 5 of the drawings and one section such as the section 15a shown in Figs. 8 to 11 of the drawings is torn off from the main supporting strip 15. In view of the score lines provided along the strip 15, this tearing will occur along the score lines. The operator then grasps the strip 15 upon which the tinsel 17 is supported and rotates it to a position with the edges all in substantially the horizontal plane thus spreading apart to a maximum extent the opposed ends of each tinsel strand 17. The grooves 16 will maintain the tinsel strands 17 in spaced parallel relationship on the support 15a. While still holding the support section 15a in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 8, the support 15a is moved in the direction of its longitudinal axis as indicated by the arrow A parallel to and slightly above a branch 28 of a Christmas tree.

When the strip has been moved so that the end of the branch is reached, the support section 15a is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow B in Fig. 9 so that the support section 15a is again in its normal position relative to the tinsel with its narrowest dimension between the opposed ends of the draped tinsel strands. The branch 28 which is wider than this narrowest dimension thus holds the ends of the strands apart whereby the support section 15a may readily be moved downwardly in the direction of the arrow C in Fig. 10 with the result that the tinsel drops on to the branch 28 of the Christmas tree. When the support section 15a reaches the positionshown in Fig.

assists 11, the strip again may be moved in the direction of its longitudinal axis as indicated by the arrow B in Fig. 11 so as to move completely awa y from the tinsel 17 which remains on the limb in a manner as if placed thereon by the individual application of each strand. It will be apparent that with the support a, a Christmas tree may be trimmed in a fraction of the time heretofore required and will have the appearance of a tree in which each tinsel strand is applied individually to the tree. It will be understood that if the branch to which the tinsel is to be applied is shorter than the length of the strip, then only a portion of the tinsel will be transferred from the strip to the branch and the remainder of the tinsel on the strip will maintain its position so that it will be used to trim another short branch.

Although the particular strip construction described having serrations along one edge and none along the other has been found to be very satisfactory, it may be desirable under certain conditions to simplify the cutting and stamping operation by preparing supports such as 15 having serrations along both edges. The serrations along one of the edges will then have no function.

In Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings, there is illustrated still another method of positioning and holding the tinsel support 15 of the present invention in a tinsel box. The box 30 in Fig. 12 is substantially identical with the tinsel box Eli of Fig. 5 including a conventional cover 3li at one end and the notches or openings 32 and 33 to afford access to the support 15. In this case, vertical strips 36 may be inserted in the box after the sup port 15 is positioned therein to perform the same function as the flaps 24. The strips may merely be frictionally held in the position or they may have a glue application on one side so as to be held in position.

It will be understood that the packaging may be accomplished by automatic machinery such as actually folding the box around the support 15 having the tinsel disposed thereon. This is an advantage in that the tinsel boxes which are usually manufactured by a box manufacturer and supplied to the tinsel manufacturer may be shipped fiat. Other methods of packaging the support 15 will readily suggest themselves.

In view of the detailed description included above, the operation of the present invention will readily be understood by those skilled in the art and no further discussion thereof is included herewith. It is obvious, however, that there has been provided an improved tinsel support which not only supports the tinsel in a very satisfactory manner within a suitable tinsel package, but which support itself may actually be used to trim the Christmas tree and permits an improved method of trimming also forming a part of the present invention.

While there has been illustrated and described several modifications of the present invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A tinsel package comprising a container having a predetermined width and thickness, a support for tinsel comprising an elongated strip of material having a notched edge defining a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced grooves adapted to receive strands of tinsel, structural means dividing said strip into sections of uniform length, said strip being folded to move adjacent sections into parallel abutting relationships to engage and clamp the interposed tinsel strands, said folded sections having a length and width to fit snugly in one end of said container with said tinsel strands supported in said grooves extending into the remainder of said container, and means for maintaining said support at said one end of said container.

2. Atinsel package comprising a container having a predetermined width and thickness, a support for tinsel comprising an elongated strip of material having a sawtoothed edge defining a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced grooves adapted to receive tinsel strands, means dividing said strip into sections of a uniform length substantially equal to said predetermined width, said strip being folded so that said sections are disposed in parallel relationship defining a stack having a thickness substantially equal to said predetermined thickness whereby said folded support may be disposed in one end of said container with said tinsel strands supported in said grooves extending into the remainder of said container, and means comprising a part of said container for supporting said folded strip at said one end of said container so that said container maintains said strip in said folded condition.

3. A tinsel package of cardboard or the like comprising a container having a predetermined width and thickness, a support for tinsel comprising an elongated strip of material having a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced grooves along one edge for receiving strands of tinsel, means dividing said strip into sections of uniform length corresponding to said predetermined width, said strip being folded so that said sections are disposed in substantially parallel abutting relationships engaging and clamping said tinsel strands in a stack having a length substantially equal to said predetermined width and a thickness substantially equal to said predetermined thickness, and means mounting said. folded strip within one end of said container with the tinsel supported in said grooves extending into the remainder of said container, said container engaging the outermost of said sections in said abutting relationship to maintain said sections of said strip in clamping engagement with said tinsel strands so as to prevent movement of said strands out of said grooves when said strip is disposed within said container.

4. A tinsel package comprising an elongated narrow strip of material folded into a plurality of sections in pleated fashion, the corresponding edge of each of said sections being provided with substantially uniformly spaced grooves adapted to receive strands of tinsel, said strip being disposed with said sections substantially in parallel abutting relationship to engage the interposed tinsel strands, and means for holding said sections in said parallel abutting relationship to hold the strands against movement.

5. A tinsel package comprising an elongated strip of cardboard having one edge defining a saw-toothed configuration to provide a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced grooves for receiving strands of tinsel, uniformly spaced score lines along said strip to divide the same into sections of uniform length whereby said strip may be folded in pleated fashion and said sections disposed in stacked parallel relationship with the faces of adjacent sections in substantial engagement thereby to assume a minimum volume with the maximum dimension determined by the individual length of said sections, said engaged faces clamping said tinsel strands therebetween to prevent said strands from being displaced from said grooves, and means for holding said strip in said stacked parallel relationship.

6. A package for use with strands of tinsel comprising a strip having a plurality of spaced notches formed in one edge thereof for receiving the bight portions of looped strands of tinsel, said strip being structurally weakened at uniformly spaced positions to define a plurality of sections, said strip being folded in pleated fashion at said positions to place adjacent surfaces of said strip in abutting engagement with each other to clamp said bight por tions of said strands against displacement relative to said notches, a container for receiving said folded strip with the free ends of said looped strands of tinsel disposed therein, and means carried on said container adjacent one end 7 thereof for supporting said folded strip in said one end of said container, said container maintaining said strip in said folded condition to maintain the strands against displacement relative to said notches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 5,725 Sutro Jan. 6, 1874 115,175 Davis May 23, 1871 470,872 Schnepp Mar. 15, 1892 581,983 Eichhorn May 4, 1897 1,238,641 Coon Aug. 28, 1917 1,441,266 Clune Jan. 9, 1923 1,448,829 Clinton Mar. 20, 1923 

